2019 3:20, And Beyond (Read 444 times)

Keen: Sorry to hear a bug may have been your downfall.  Regarding signing up for another one, I’ll throw in my experience...

My first attempt at a sub-3 marathon was a bust.  I knew it around mile 21, and I shut things down, and ran/walked the remaining miles.  My second attempt was roughly 12 weeks later.  As Kcam suggested, I recovered pretty quickly, as I didn’t over-exert myself in the marathon, and I got another 8 or so solid weeks of training in.  In hindsight, the first attempt wound up being a long run with 21 miles at MP effort.  And I got the sub-3 on the second attempt.  For me, I feel as though running another marathon in January would be too soon, but I think early March would be ideal.  It allows time for recovery, if that is needed, and for a little more training.  So, if I were in your shoes, I would opt for Cowtown.

keen is picking another marathon in a month going to do anything different than running one in a few months with some more training? You can probably run an ultra no problem with your training for marathons. If you’re trying to squeeze everything into 2020 something is going to happen. Always does. If you can run one in 5 weeks that’s a week or two off hard workouts (counting this week), two of something with marathon pace, then a quick taper. Fast turn around and it probably wouldn’t be 80+ mile weeks. Second option is another 12 week cycle and you race in February or March when you’d possibly need to travel south....but then there is early spring weather (monsoons) possibility. I did April after an October marathon. After Chicago I couldn’t have raced CIM 7 weeks out (probably mentally) for a sub 3 or even 3:05 which is what I’d trained for.

My advice is to pick the race you feel gives you the absolute best shot at a Sub 3 so you can apply for Boston 2021 with me.

EDIT: Is the $350 "donation" for running Chevron Marathon as a charity entry for the Houston Marathon Foundation an option?

I think it's been about 6 months since I was here.... but after 1 year, 1 month, and 20 days with no running (except for the occasional jog across a crosswalk or to catch a train), my doctor has cleared me for some very easy running. Couch to 5k program here I come!

Keen - sorry about the race.  You will nail the next one.  If it was me, and time and money was not an issue. I would look for a redemption race next week.  Sprint off the line and blow up, but that is me.

OMR - Sun Marathon in Utah mid February.   It is going to be a tricky course.  Downhill until mile twenty then a good uphill and then a few rolling hills at the end.

Darkwave - nice week with some quality.   I have one more week of base building and then I will be hitting you up for some workout.

Perfect OMR.  I really hope the point to point course happens this year at BC.  Still one of my favorite races.

Hi folks

Don't remember the last time I posted.  Seems like quite a bit of stuff has happened.  Good work on all that.

I was a pretty weird stretch after San Diego.  The poison oak was going to get real bad just in time for Thanksgiving so for the first time ever I went to the doctor and got the steroid shot.  I guess that makes for 'out of competition' for a little while.  I also did a short course of pred, which was a bit crazy.  She warned me I wouldn't feel full and that was certainly the case.  And just in time for Thanksgiving...  Wound up gaining about 10 pounds.  Not kidding.

Attempted to do a little racing this past weekend.  The big race back home was Saturday and I miss it.  So I went over to Healdsburg for their holiday deal.  A little pricey and not very competitive.  But it worked out cause I won shoes.  They're Topos, so they might be a little weird for me, but they were 'free.'  I also went out not even what I could probably do for a legit 5k and I was just all alone after the kids in front slowed.  But I couldn't hold it and got passed.  I blame the extra 10 pounds.

I was expecting to be cut sometime between now and next month but apparently the next boss wants me around so I get to use all my hours.  Which should be interesting, it definitely does winter up here.  I might need to buy some chains.  But if I can find clear roads regularly enough I might actually be able to train a bit.  It's been less than a year since Clarkson and the sub 1:30, so maybe i'm not a lost cause at this point?

Going to take at least a few days off. Had moderate left calf pain on Friday and cut my run short by 2 miles. Tried again this morning. Scheduled run was 16. Made it 5 miles and had to stop running due to pain and stiffness, walked a mile back to the car. Pretty disappointed, but know there’s plenty of time between now and April. 

I’ll take any calf/Achilles advice you’ve got.

Based on my considerable injury experience and complete lack of medical knowledge....

1) If it's inflamed, for the next 24 hours I'd ice it and rest it (except for pool-running/swimming).  I'd also gently move my ankle in circles/point-flex the foot several times a day, to the extent I could do so pain-free.  If there are muscle knots, I'd work on massaging those out as well.  Voo-doo flossing (google it) is another tactic that has worked really well for me.

2) after that, I'd shift to wearing a gentle compression sock at night when I sleep and also wrapping it with a heating pad set on low.  I'd continue with the gentle movement of the ankle, the massaging out of muscle knots, and the voo-doo flossing.

3) once it felt like it was settling down, I'd start carefully re-introducing running.

Is it in the calf (muscle) or the achilles (tendon)?   If the former, it's less concerning to me - that should clear up faster.